The bill aims to extend the free school lunch program over the summer to more needy kids.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Maine's Democratic-controlled Senate is poised to decide whether to overturn a veto by Republican Gov. Paul LePage on a bill that seeks to provide more free lunches to students over the summer.

The bill the Senate will take up Tuesday requires schools where at least half of the students that qualify for free or reduced lunches for students and hold activities for students in the summer to operate a summer food services program.

In his veto letter, LePage called the bill an ''irresponsible unfunded mandate'' by directing schools to implement a program without providing funding.

But supporters of the bill sponsored by Democratic Senate President Justin Alfond say the federal program reimburses school districts for 100 percent of the cost and that schools can opt out if it's too expensive.